Brewers 2025 Mock Draft Roundup: Does A Consensus Emerge? originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The MLB Draft has finally arrived. While this event previously took place in early June, now it lines up with the All Star Break, meaning a longer wait but more eyeballs on the first year player Draft.

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The Milwaukee Brewers have their draft board lined up and ready to go and they will make 22 selections in this year’s Draft. Who will they pick in these selections and who will lead the class? There are a number of predictions out there.

Ahead of tonight’s Draft, here’s a roundup of who the Mock Draft experts have the Brewers taking with the 20th overall pick.

Jul 3, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Detailed view of a Milwaukee Brewers cap and glove during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Athletic’s Keith Law – Gavin Fien, SS, Great Oaks (CA) HS

One of the consensus mid-late first round bats in this class, Gavin Fien fits a best player available scenario for the Brewers in Keith Law’s mock. He also happens to fit the Brewers mold pretty well as a well rounded hitter with a combination of hitting and power ability. He may end up having to move to a corner spot as he develops, but there’s enough power to make that work and a good enough throwing arm.

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CBS Sports – Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas

Aloy was the top college player in the country this season, earning the Golden Spikes Award. However, a mental error in the College World Series overshadowed his greatness all season. Aloy is a capable shortstop, even though he lacks top end speed. He’d be a safe selection as a college bat that can stick up the middle and the Brewers have selected that type of player in the first round numerous times in recent years.

Baseball America – Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina

Another seemingly perfect fit for the Brewers, Caden Bodine is a switch-hitting college catcher with excellent framing ability behind the dish and a plus hit tool. He does not strike out, he will draw walks, and he will put the ball in play. There may not be much power, but if he’s getting on base from the catcher spot and hit from both sides of the plate, that’s incredibly valuable to have in the lineup and a great value to get with the 20th overall pick.

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Bleacher Report – Gavin Kilen, 2B, Tennessee

Sticking with the middle infield theme, Gavin Kilen here would be a perfect fit for the Brewers. He’s a college bat with a strong offensive profile. He doesn’t swing and miss much, he has some power as well, and his ability to make contact is something the Brewers have heavily targeted.

ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel – Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest

More middle infielders! Marek Houston had a fantastic season for Wake Forest, slashing .354/.458/.597 with 15 homers, 19 stolen bases, and as many walks as strikeouts. It’s another safe college bat profile that can stick up the middle with excellent defense at shortstop. That’s something the Brewers do love to draft.

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MLB Pipeline – Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas

The Brewers don’t often go for pitchers in the first round, having selected just one in the last decade, Ethan Small in 2019, and that pick didn’t exactly work out. But if there’s anyone to buck the trend for, it might be the guy who threw a 19-strikeout no-hitter in the College World Series in Gage Wood. Wood has a fastball that can reach the upper 90s and he has some unique, deceptive qualities.

Prospects Live – Andrew Fischer, 1B/3B, Tennessee

Fischer would be a lot more similar to Brock Wilken and Blake Burke as a power-over-hit corner infielder that the Brewers have taken early in each of the last two drafts. He improved his swing decisions this year, drawing more walks and cutting down on strikeouts, but he’s likely a first baseman only, which hurts his profile and puts a lot more pressure on his bat.

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Baseball Prospect Journal’s Dan Zielinski – Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina

Our first repeat selection of this mock draft roundup. Bodine earns a second nod to the Brewers here. He was the emotional leader of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on their run to the CWS Finals and that kind of makeup is another attractive quality for a team like the Brewers in the Draft.

Baseball Prospect Journal’s Logan Quinton – Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina

BPJ seems to have a consensus that the Brewers will take the Chanticleer backstop. Apparently, switch-hitting catchers with bat-to-ball skills make a ton of sense as a first round pick, who would’ve guessed?

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Just Baseball – Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest

Another repeat here, going back to the Demon Deacon shortstop with Houston. A safe, up the middle college bat makes a ton of sense for the Brewers if he’s on the board. Especially if the seemingly popular Bodine is off the board, Houston is another popular target.

The first round of the Draft gets underway tonight at 5 PM CT. The Brewers will have five selections on day one. We will soon learn just who from these mock drafts was correct in their prognostication.

Related: 8 Draft Prospects That Would Be Perfect Fits for the Brewers

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.

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With the combine underway and only a few more games in Omaha remaining, MLB draft season is winding down — so it’s time to take another stab at projecting the first round-plus of the 2025 draft.

The start of the MLB draft combine has become a sign that we’re about to enter silly season, when rumors become less attached to reality by the day. Private on-field workouts for players mentioned below are over, so there won’t be much more useful information collected — and that means the rumors are tied to controlling perception more than reflecting a new reality.

The biggest trend to note compared with the previous mock is the half-dozen or so rising college position players, which also corresponds to rumblings that the second cut of high school position players might slip a bit, often for overslot bonuses.

My “speculative” projection in the last mock was Arkansas right-hander Gage Wood at No. 17 — I thought he could be this year’s Cade Horton or Ty Floyd, rising late through the college postseason. Well, Wood threw a no-hitter earlier this week in the Men’s College World Series and now looks to have a floor somewhere in the range I initially projected him in — which was high at the time.

Now let’s predict the first 40 players to come off the board when this year’s MLB draft starts Sunday, July 13.

Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU

Top 150 rank: 7

The conversation around who will go No. 1 continues to be wide open and will be until draft day, but Anderson’s strong finish to the season has him looking like the slight favorite over Ethan Holliday as the top pick. Seth Hernandez and Eli Willits are also getting looks here, and I’m sure there are internal conversations about a couple of other options, but Anderson and Holliday are seen as the most likely selections.

Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee

Top 150 rank: 6

Name a player and he probably has been connected to this pick. Trying to figure out what’s actually going on here has been like watching “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” — there are more outgoing calls, workouts, rumors, misinformation and theories about the second pick than any other in the entire first round.

When in doubt, judge a team based on what it has done, and the Angels like to save on a quick-moving college player with their first pick. Despite his excellent season, Doyle’s interest seems to have a major hole in it. While there’s believed to be real interest in him at No. 2, teams picking behind the Angels think Doyle could slide all the way to No. 9 of No. 10. Doyle and Seth Hernandez have a similar group of teams eyeing them, as they’re both seen as a riskier type of pitcher (though not in the same way) than Anderson or Jamie Arnold.

There’s some buzz that prep shortstop Eli Willits could be the pick here (his father, Reggie, played for the Angels), breaking the Angels’ trend of taking college players, but I’ll believe that when I see it. Outside of the targets in the top 10 or so picks, the Angels seem to really like Georgia prep shortstop Daniel Pierce, but it’s unlikely he drops to their next pick at 47. At the Angels’ next few picks, potential quick-moving college arms such as Georgia’s Brian Curley, Tennessee’s A.J. Russell and Iowa’s Cade Obermueller make a lot of sense.

Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State

Top 150 rank: 1

The Mariners seem to be zeroed in on pitching with Anderson and Arnold being the best fits for them, along with high school pitcher Seth Hernandez if they can stomach taking a prep right-hander this high. In this scenario, I think they just take Arnold. Oregon State shortstop Aiva Arquette is still being scouted for this pick and I’ve heard Ike Irish and JoJo Parker brought up, but they seem to be on the outside looking in right now.

Ethan Holliday, 3B, Stillwater HS (Oklahoma)

Top 150 rank: 3

This is one of the most well-known connections in the draft, and Holliday is likely to go fourth if he doesn’t go first. I’d guess this would be for an overslot bonus, similar to what Colorado did with Charlie Condon last year. Colorado is also tied to Aiva Arquette and Kyson Witherspoon, though I think it’d also be looking at whichever of the three college lefties remain if Holliday isn’t available.

JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis HS (Mississippi)

Top 150 rank: 9

This is right about where the consensus starts to open up. Names such as Ike Irish, Eli Willits, Parker and Billy Carlson come up here, and this is seen as a stopping point for Holliday, Anderson and Arnold if they get this far. Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston’s name has also come up. If Anderson, Arnold and Holliday are gone, this pick is seen as likely to be a position player — probably the one the Cards think has the best hit tool of the group. Parker would most likely come with some (but not a lot of) savings if he went here and, of late, he has momentum to sneak ahead of Carlson and/or Willits. Some teams think Parker is actually the best hitter in the draft.

Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State

Top 150 rank: 8

The two players most tied to this spot are Arquette and Billy Carlson. I’ve also heard the Pirates would take prep righty Seth Hernandez if the board falls a certain way. There are some parallels to Hernandez in other picks this front office has made, such as Jared Jones and Bubba Chandler, so it makes some sense.

Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (Oklahoma)

Top 150 rank: 2

Willits has some interest at the top two picks, and then is in the mix for basically every pick starting at No. 5 with the Cardinals — so he should go by this pick or the next (Toronto). Miami is tied almost solely to prep position players –Willits, Parker and Billy Carlson come up a lot. There have also been some rumors of another underslot deal like last year’s pick of P.J. Morlando, with targets like some of the prep hitters who are projected a dozen picks or so later, if Miami doesn’t like the names/prices of the players on the board.

Ike Irish, C/OF, Auburn

Top 150 rank: 26

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Irish will be ranked higher once I update my rankings, and his name is coming up a lot in the back half of the top 10 and into the teens. There’s lots of buzz he will go ahead of Jace LaViolette — and not that far behind Arquette, if not ahead of him. College bats are rumored to be rising late in the process this year (including Brendan Summerhill, Gavin Kilen, Wehiwa Aloy, Marek Houston, Caden Bodine and Andrew Fischer), and moving a high school player who’s a late-first-round talent to a later pick is a common and often successful strategy. Toronto is often tied to the same prep bats as Miami and St. Louis, but the Blue Jays are believed to be going the college route if the right names with the right prices don’t land here. Irish, Arquette, Willits, Parker and Billy Carlson seem to make up the group from which they’ll probably pick.

Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS (California)

Top 150 rank: 4

Hernandez, as mentioned above, is seen as likely to go either No. 3 to the Mariners or here — with some chance he goes at a couple of other slots, but half the teams in the top 10 seem unlikely to take a prep right-hander. The Reds are hoping he gets here and have no fear of taking this kind of player. If Hernandez isn’t available, they are tied to toolsy types, mostly high schoolers: Steele Hall, Jace LaViolette and Billy Carlson come up the most. This is about where Josh Hammond’s range begins, but he could also go in the 20s.

Billy Carlson, SS, Corona HS (California)

Top 150 rank: 5

The White Sox are casting a wide net because of where they pick. I think Doyle — and probably Carlson and Parker, too — stops here if he happens to slide this far, while Steele Hall is also in the mix. The top tier of talent in the eyes of most evaluators is at least eight players and maybe as many as a dozen, so Chicago will have to be reactive to who is left over. But the White Sox probably will get one of the players they target from that tier.

Brendan Summerhill, CF, Arizona

Top 150 rank: 27

This is about where the top college righties — Kyson Witherspoon and Omaha hero Gage Wood — come into the mix. This is also where that second cut of college position players, with Arquette and Irish gone in this scenario, start to come into consideration depending on what a team prefers: shortstops Wehiwa Aloy, Gavin Kilen and Marek Houston and outfielders Summerhill and Jace LaViolette. The A’s have been tied to Summerhill all spring, and he probably goes in this range and fits the type of player they’ve taken in the past. He’ll also move up in my rankings in the next update.

Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS (Alabama)

Top 150 rank: 11

Texas is right in the middle of Hall’s range and I think his most likely landing spot. The Rangers are probably straddling the line between picking up a top-tier player who might get to this spot and leading off the next tier of players, which will lean more toward prep prospects and upside. I think Hall is the last position player in that top tier. Texas is also one of the teams most in on New York prep catcher Michael Oliveto, who has interest as high as the comp round and could be the team’s second-round pick.

Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma

Top 150 rank: 10

Witherspoon has some landing spots in the top 10, but Arkansas’ Gage Wood is closing in on him as the top college righty. I think both will land just outside of the top 10. The Giants have been tied to many of the aforementioned second cut of college players, with Wehiwa Aloy and Marek Houston also coming up a lot, and Irish quite similar to recently traded former first-rounder James Tibbs.

Gavin Kilen, SS, Tennessee

Top 150 rank: 24

The Rays are tied to the top prep position players, as usual, with Hall, Jaden Fauske, Sean Gamble, Dean Moss and Josh Hammond mentioned the most — though there are also some college players tied to this pick, with Kilen leading the pack. The Rays pick again at Nos. 37 and 42, and there’s a chance most of those prep players will still be around for an overslot bonus, so grabbing a rising college bat who should go by the 20th pick is a good strategy.

Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak HS (California)

Top 150 rank: 13

I’m a big believer in Fien, and he fits around here or in the next half-dozen picks or so. The Red Sox were also heavy on Kilen out of high school, or I could see them being swayed by Gage Wood’s outstanding close to the college season.

Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas

Top 150 rank: 21

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I was high on Wood’s upside early on, having him go to the Cubs at the next pick in the last mock I did. After his historic MCWS performance, I think the consensus is he belongs in this general area, maybe as high as Nos. 12 or 13, but probably gone by 20 or 24. Wood, for the right team, could be rushed to the upper level of the minors for a potential big league look in relief as a way to limit his innings but also develop his pitchability against better hitters. Minnesota is mostly tied to college players here, and that’s who should be going in this range, though they’re also in on prep third baseman Xavier Neyens.

Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas

Top 150 rank: 14

Aloy could go a half-dozen picks higher or even a bit lower than this, as the college bats in this tier are seemingly in a different order for every team. Wood still makes sense here, too, especially as a potential quick mover, along with other power bats such as Jace LaViolette, Xavier Neyens, Andrew Fischer, Josh Hammond and Tate Southisene.

Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest

Top 150 rank: 15

The Diamondbacks tend to look for contact-oriented types who fit at up-the-middle positions with their high picks. College players Caden Bodine, Houston and Kilen, as well as high schoolers Slater de Brun, Daniel Pierce and Kayson Cunningham all fit here and at their next pick, No. 29.

Jace LaViolette, CF, Texas A&M

Top 150 rank: 9

Many think LaViolette’s slide would end here given Baltimore’s history of taking power-and-patience types with some defensive value. Xavier Neyens is also commonly connected to the Orioles here, among other position players being named at the picks in this range. But a number of those high school players could get floated to Baltimore’s next picks at 30 and 31.

Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina

Top 150 rank: 35

Bodine’s range starts in the middle of the round with numbers-oriented teams being on him most due to his contact rates and framing prowess, both attributes that Milwaukee emphasizes. Lots of contact-oriented bats are tied here, such as Kilen, Houston, Slater de Brun and Daniel Pierce. I could also see this being a possible floor for Wood.

Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon HS (Washington)

Top 150 rank: 19

Houston has been tied to a number of the standout athletic testers in the prep class such as Neyens, Tate Southisene, Josh Hammond and Sean Gamble. I could also see this being a floor for power-oriented college bats such as LaViolette and Aloy, with some overlap between the Astros’ targets and which player the Orioles take at No. 19.

Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

Top 150 rank: 28

Bremner has been a bit disappointing this season but has now fallen enough that he’s a strong value for a team to get in the 20s with a number of landing spots throughout the comp round. I think this Braves pick will be a nice landing spot for college talent with Houston, Wood and Bodine also mentioned here.

Josh Hammond, 3B, Wesleyan Christian HS (North Carolina)

Top 150 rank: 18

Hammond has a number of potential landing spots starting around No. 10 and ending somewhere in the mid-20s. Given Hammond’s two-way exploits, there are parallels here with Austin Riley, a player Royals scouting director Brian Bridges drafted while with Atlanta. I’d expect prep pitching and/or a prep shortstop (lots of names are mentioned, especially given Kansas City’s history) at their next few picks.

Andrew Fischer, 3B, Tennessee

Top 150 rank: 53

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Fischer is rising due to his strong performance in the SEC this year, and while he’s likely still behind Irish, he might be sneaking up on LaViolette with a chance to go in the top 20 picks. I think Detroit is looking to pair a college player with a high school player between this pick and its next (34) and will be looking mostly at left-handed hitters. As you can guess, that means a lot of different players have been tied to these two picks. Slater de Brun, Cam Cannarella, Jaden Fauske and Kayson Cunningham come up the most.

Slater de Brun, CF, Summit HS (Oregon)

Top 150 rank: 16

De Brun is believed to be in play for Arizona at No. 18 but otherwise probably lands somewhere in the 20s. The Padres are tied to a number of high school players here — Dax Kilby, Quentin Young, Kruz Schoolcraft and Matthew Fisher, among others — but also seem to be in on some college players such as Ethan Conrad and Bremner. I’d predict they go with a high schooler, especially given their history.

Sean Gamble, 2B, IMG Academy (Florida)

Top 150 rank: 23

The Phillies are considering some high school players with upside, as you’d expect, and if the board plays out this way, Gamble, Daniel Pierce or Kayson Cunningham all fit. There’s a good shot they would look to pair this pick with a prep arm at their next pick.

Tate Southisene, SS, Basic HS (Nevada)

Top 150 rank: 22

I think the Guardians will be in on what’s left of the upside prep position player crop along with being opportunistic if a college player such as Fischer, Wood, Bodine or Bremner falls this far.

Prospect promotion incentive picks

28. Kansas City Royals: Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS (Georgia)

Compensation picks

29. Arizona Diamondbacks: Kayson Cunningham, SS, Johnson HS (Texas)

30. Baltimore Orioles: Cam Cannarella, CF, Clemson

31. Baltimore Orioles: Dax Kilby, SS, Newnan HS (Georgia)

32. Milwaukee Brewers: Jaden Fauske, OF, Nazareth Academy HS (Illinois)

Competitive balance picks

33. Boston Red Sox: Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina

34. Detroit Tigers: Aaron Watson, RHP, Trinity Christian HS (Florida)

35. Seattle Mariners: Ethan Conrad, RF, Wake Forest

36. Minnesota Twins: Charles Davalan, LF, Arkansas

37. Tampa Bay Rays: Anthony Eyanson, RHP, LSU

These three teams had their first-round picks moved down 10 slots due to exceeding the second surcharge threshold of the competitive balance tax. We’ll include them so all 30 teams have a projected pick.

Devin Taylor, LF, Indiana

Top 150 rank: 57

Taylor has a lot of interest in the comp round and doesn’t have an enormous upside, but he could be quick moving with 55-grade hit and power grades.

J.B. Middleton, RHP, Southern Miss

Top 150 rank: 50

Middleton has a lot of interest from a late-first-round to an early-second-round pick as a power arm with starter feel and gaudy numbers this spring. He’s similar as a prospect to two top picks in last year’s draft, college righties Ben Hess and Bryce Cunningham.

Quentin Young, SS, Oaks Christian HS (CA)

Top 150 rank: 101

Young, nephew of Dmitri and Delmon Young, is tied to the Dodgers and Padres and has lots of late momentum despite his high whiff rates in the spring and last summer. That’s due to his gargantuan upside as a 6-foot-6 infielder with plus-plus raw power that might be 80-grade one day; he’ll be moving up in the update of my top 150 rankings. The Dodgers also have the 41st pick, and while I have them tied to a number of arms, I landed on Louisville’s Patrick Forbes.

With Major League Baseball’s draft looming in a little more than a month, it’s evident that selection Sunday will be volatile right up to the point commissioner Rob Manfred officially marries player with team from the dais of Atlanta’s Roxy Theater.

While the lack of a consensus No. 1 – let alone a top 5, 10, 20 – will rob the proceedings of a Paul Skenes-like anointment, the Choose Your Own Adventure element of this selection meeting should be evident throughout the first round.

COLLEGE WORLD SERIES: 8 MLB draft prospects to watch in Omaha

With only the College World Series remaining among amateur competition and MLB’s Draft League revving up, USA TODAY Sports takes aim its second mock draft:

1. Washington Nationals: Ethan Holliday, INF, Stillwater (Okla.) HS

He’s not No. 1 with a bullet. Yet it’s difficult to justify moving Holliday off here even as there’s plenty of smoke around 1/1 alternatives. The crop of majors-ready arms did little to harm their stock in the postseason. Seth Hernandez may possess the dudeliest arm out there. Eli Willits visited Nationals Park last week. But we’re not yet prepared to envision a world where someone other than Holliday kicks off this chain reaction. Stay tuned.

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2. Los Angeles Angels: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State

In the name of consistency, we’re keeping Arnold at 2, even as fellow college lefties Liam Doyle and Kade Anderson lurk. While both may possess greater upside and miss more bats, Arnold has shown an ability to get deep in games against elite competition, and better fits the “now” ethos of the Angels’ recent draft history.

3. Seattle Mariners: Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State

At the risk of getting too static, it’s nonetheless tough to move this 6-foot-5, 220-pound shortstop specimen out of the three hole, particularly with plenty of elite college arms the Mariners develop so well available. But it’s also tough to pass on a potential 10-year cog in a lineup that needs one.

4. Colorado Rockies: Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton (Okla.) HS

Kinda wild that two legacy players who squared off throughout high school will affect the other’s fate so much. It’s not that the Rockies face a Holliday/Willits binary when they’re on the clock, but in this simulation, taking a potential cornerstone who doesn’t turn 18 until December will be too tough for the need-everything Rockies to bypass.

5. St. Louis Cardinals: Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU

The Cardinals are almost guaranteed to get one of the elite college lefties and in this universe, it’s Anderson, who has sparred with Doyle for the NCAA strikeout lead all year and will take his 163 punchouts in 103 innings into at least one more start, in Omaha.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona (Calif.) HS

Volatility, thy name is Seth. Who wouldn’t want a 6-foot-4 high schooler whose fastball sits in the high 90s with advanced secondary offerings and has dominated against elite prep competition? Yet the trepidation of “high school right-hander draft history” may be a headwind all the way up to Manfred’s stroll to the podium. Still, this figures to be the floor, or close to it, for a fireballer on the periphery of the 1/1 conversation.

7. Miami Marlins: Billy Carlson, SS, Corona (Calif.) HS

It’s the 909’s time to shine, with a pair of Panthers popped in succession. The Marlins stumble upon a nice building block here, as Carlson’s elite arm and bat speed will get him to Miami’s infield quicker than most prep draftees.

8. Toronto Blue Jays: Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee

While there are a few spoilers out there, this looks like the top eight, in one order or another. In this scenario, Doyle tumbles a bit; like Hernandez, his wait could be much shorter on July 13.

9. Cincinnati Reds: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma

Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns… Witherspoon? Sounds like the makings of a nice rotation thanks to draft capital spent on advanced college arms. The math checks out that an arm of that ilk will be available. Witherspoon cut his walk rate nearly in half – from 14.2% to 7.2% – making his high-upside and unpredictive repertoire even more effective.

10. Chicago White Sox: Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M

From 1/1 favorite to who knows, LaViolette’s slide stops with the White Sox, whose revamped hitting program could be the panacea for a slugger whose platform junior year fizzled. LaViolette regressed from .305, 29 homers, 1.175 OPS to .257, 18 and 1.003, and his K rate nudged upward, to 25.2.

11. Athletics: Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest

The glut of prep shortstops are all still on this board, but the Athletics opt for a guy who can impact their lineup before they depart Yolo County for Las Vegas. A nice infield complement to shoo-in Rookie of the Year Jacob Wilson.

12. Texas Rangers: Kayson Cunningham, SS, Johnson (Texas) HS

The Rangers amble down I-35 for their choice, a mature high school bat with solid Team USA bona fides and a commitment to Texas. Let the run on prep shortstops begin.

13. San Francisco Giants: JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis (Miss.) HS

Parker could easily be gone by now, but his power from a premier position at a young age is too much for the Giants to bypass here in the first draft overseen by the Buster Posey regime.

14. Tampa Bay Rays: Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) HS

He doesn’t turn 18 until a week after the draft and has significant power potential and all-around athletic ability that guarantees he’ll play somewhere up the middle, a versatile skill set the Rays value.

15. Boston Red Sox: Gavin Kilen, INF, Tennessee

A 13th-round Red Sox draftee out of high school, Kilen leveled up at Louisville and then with the Vols, with whom he slugged 15 homers with a 1.112 OPS this season. Struck out just 27 times in 245 plate appearances, a solid K rate given the elite level of pitching in the SEC.

16. Minnesota Twins: Tyler Bremner, LHP, UC Santa Barbara

Bremner probably shouldn’t be slept on to this extent; a consensus top five pick a few months ago, he started slowly but posted double-digit strikeout games in six of his final seven starts, and is a nice value here.

17. Chicago Cubs: Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas

Sure, Arquette owns the title of “Best Hawaiian Shortstop In the College World Series,” but Aloy looks up to few of his peers. The SEC player of the year slugged 20 home runs and is sound enough defensively to stick at shortstop.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks: Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek (Ga.) HS

The Georgia commit is advanced in both age – he turns 19 in August – and acumen, though there remains some power upside.

19. Baltimore Orioles: Ethan Conrad, OF, Wake Forest

Until proven otherwise, the Orioles stick with their advanced college bat template in the first round, with Conrad flying under the radar thanks to season-ending shoulder injury after an outfield dive. Before he got hurt, Conrad was raking (.372/.495/.744 in 97 plate appearances) for the Demon Deacons.

20. Milwaukee Brewers: Ike Irish, C/OF, Auburn

Another club that tends to lean college bat, the Brewers get a nice piece in Irish, whose .364, 19-homer platform season looks even better if he sticks at catcher professionally. But Irish caught just 12 games for the Tigers this year, spending 45 games in the outfield.

21. Houston Astros: Andrew Fischer, INF, Tennessee

This is perhaps too much helium for Fischer, whose physical profile may not support the sort of power to slug as a first baseman might be expected at the big league level. But there’s still onramp for Fischer to establish himself at another infield position and the Astros can figure that out as he builds off his exuberant 25-homer, 1.205 OPS platform year on Rocky Top.

22. Atlanta Braves: Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, Sunset (Ore.) HS

A lefty with Schoolcraft’s big arm should slot much higher, but the current industry lean toward collegiate talent in the top of the first round drops him in Atlanta’s lap. At 6-8 and with a 97-mph fastball, Schoolcraft has a significant floor that the Braves can work with.

23. Kansas City Royals: Gavin Fien, INF, Great Oak (Calif.) HS

A Texas commit whose future position is subject to change, Fien’s bat stands up against the prep shortstops projected to go ahead of him.

24. Detroit Tigers: Xavier Neyens, INF, Mt. Vernon (Wash.) HS

We’ll keep Neyens right here, even as his tantalizing upside and 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame could inspire clubs to jump sooner. There are worse players to dream on than a potential left-handed swinging Austin Riley.

25. San Diego Padres: Sean Gamble, INF/OF, IMG (Fla.) Academy

Should add plenty of power and could end up playing anywhere on the diamond – in a good way. Gamble took his talents from Iowa to Bradenton and developed a strong baseball IQ at IMG, and possesses several traits the Padres value.

26. Philadelphia Phillies: Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina

Does not possess the current offensive profile that Irish offers, but Stevenson is a pure catcher, with an athletic 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame that hit 19 homers for the Tar Heels this season.

27. Cleveland Guardians: Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona

A nice value this deep in the first round, Summerhill offers the ability to play all three outfield positions and takes a .358/.477/.585 line into the CWS.

28. Kansas City Royals*: Anthony Eyanson, RHP, LSU

You came to Baton Rouge for Kade Anderson, but stick around for Eyanson, who transferred from UC San Diego and struck out 135 in 93 ⅔ innings with a 2.50 ERA in his only season in the SEC. Not an overwhelming repertoire but would benefit in the Royals’ burgeoning pitching program.

29. Arizona Diamondbacks**: Alex Lodise, SS, Florida State

More glue guy than toolbox, Lodise nonetheless produced a .394/.462/.705 line in his second year in Tallahassee, earning ACC player of the year honors. Hit 17 homers and has potential to add more power, but has value with his ability to play virtually anywhere.

30. Baltimore Orioles**: Cam Cannarella, OF, Clemson

We’ll keep slotting ACC outfielders to Camden Yards until they tell us differently. Yet with his superior defensive ability, speed and extra-base pop, Cannarella fits the Orioles ethos, and a .453 career OBP doesn’t hurt.

31. Baltimore Orioles**: Dean Curley, INF, Tennessee

Lots of power potential packed into a versatile infielder, Curley produced nearly as many walks (45) as strikeouts (47) this season. Concerns about defense.

32. Milwaukee Brewers: Mason Neville, OF, Oregon

Should be a first-day selection and perhaps hits the outskirts of the first round if things break his way. Neville offers 30-homer power in a 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame that for now has stuck in center field.

*- Prospect promotion incentive pick

**-Free agent compensation pick. Note: The Dodgers, Mets and Yankees each received a 10-pick penalty on their first picks for exceeding the second threshold of the competitive balance tax.

Finding the right sleepers and avoiding costly busts can make or break your fantasy baseball season. To help you get ahead of the competition, we’ve gathered insights from our Featured Pros analysts to identify this year’s most intriguing breakout candidates and biggest potential disappointments. Whether you’re looking for undervalued draft-day steals or players to fade based on expert concerns, our consensus rankings will give you a clear edge. Let’s dive into the top sleepers and busts for the 2025 fantasy baseball season-straight from the experts who know best.

Fantasy Baseball Sleepers & Busts

Who is the player you expect to be this year’s biggest fantasy baseball sleeper and why?

“Sal Frelick is coming at a deep discount. Frelick is a speedster who I believe will spend much of the season hitting leadoff for the run-happy Brewers. He added a lot of muscle in the offseason and should improve an admittedly weak exit velocity. His glove will keep him on the field.”

– Jesse Severe (Fantasy Hockey Life)

“Matt Shaw – He’s breaking camp with the Cubs and looks to be the starting third baseman. Despite this and third base not being exactly strong, Shaw’s ECR is still at 240. He’s coming off a 21 HR / 31 SB minor league season with lower to manageable strike-out numbers and an almost 100-point higher OBP. The Oopsy projections have him at 15 HR and 20 SB in under 120 projected games. Shaw isn’t much of a sleeper “name,” but his ECR and ADP show us many are still sleeping on the rookie.”

– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)

“My biggest fantasy sleeper is Nick Kurtz of the Athletics. While there is no specific timeframe for his debut as of right now the potential is too much to overlook. Take someone with lights-out power and above-average contact for the amount of power and put him in a tin-can stadium for home games. It is a recipe for a monster year that I look forward to enjoying.”

– Chad Simpson (Fantasy Six Pack)

“There is really no such thing as a pure sleeper in fantasy baseball, where every league member knows the player pool so deeply. That said, Jesus Luzardo is now in a good situation and still has very live stuff. When he was last making regular starts, we saw a K rate of over 10 batters per nine innings. He will well outperform the current ADP of SP64, which is what a sleeper really is – someone who well outperforms their ADP.”

– Scott Engel (RotoBaller)

“Robbie Ray is a sleeper at ADP 165.5. In limited action last year, he showed what made him a former Cy Young winner. His strikeout rate was over 30% for the first time since 2021 and was the highest of his career in any season. Ray’s groundball rate was lower than you’d want, but with the spacious outfield in San Francisco, it shouldn’t be a dealbreaker.”

– Chase Davis (FantasyPros)

“I already gave you Victor Robles last time for after 150. Inside the top 150, I’d like to perform a PSA for PCA, Pete Crow-Armstrong. Currently going just inside or around 150, I have him inside my top 100. He did struggle upon first callup, but it was his first real callup, and they toyed with his playing time early on. Second half, the Cubs gave him a starting job, and he proceeded to hit .262 with seven homeruns and 10 stolen bases with a better K rate and BB rate. He’s got elite speed (4th in 80 ft splits, 6th in sprint speed). After the first couple of rounds, there aren’t many guys that should give you 15+ HRs to go with 30+ SBs and the possibility of a plus average.”

– Brandon ‘B_Don’ Myers (Razzball)

“Identifying a single “biggest sleeper” in fantasy baseball can be challenging, as sleeper potential varies based on league dynamics and individual team needs. However, one player who stands out as a potential sleeper for the 2025 season is Roki Sasaki of the Los Angeles Dodgers. His current ADP is 104 which places him in round 9 of 12 teams fantasy baseball league drafts. His splitter and fastball have been outstanding this spring. We are going to get an early look at him as he is scheduled to start game 2 of the Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs on March 19th. It would not surprise me if Roki Sasaki finishes in the top 10 of fantasy baseball league starting pitchers this season.”

– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)

“Brandon Pfaadt’s underlying stats in 2024 warrant sleeper status in 2025. He had an ugly 4.71 ERA, but his xERA was almost a full run lower at 3.78. Perhaps more importantly, his FIP was 3.61, and his xFIP was 3.58. His walk percentage is an impressive 5.5%, and his 24.3% strikeout rate continued to move in the right direction. Batters could not figure out his sweeper with an xBAA of .195 and a 36.2 Whiff percentage. If Pfaadt can continue to improve these numbers and get a little more swing-and-miss on his four-seamer, he could be an absolute steal at his ADP of 176.”

– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)

Who is the player you expect to be this year’s biggest fantasy baseball bust and why?

“Jacob deGrom still has a top-50 ADP in NFBC this year. Why would anyone do that to themself? DeGrom had an insane peak but turns 37 this year and hasn’t had an over-100-inning season since before the pandemic. The upside is high, the chances of no return at all are higher.”

– Jesse Severe (Fantasy Hockey Life)

“I don’t have high hopes for Jacob deGrom. His ADP is 55.5, which is way too high for a pitcher who hasn’t pitched 100+ innings in a season since 2019. deGrom is the best pitcher in baseball whenever he’s healthy. Since 2020, he’s compiled a 2.10 ERA with a 13.9 K/9. However, he turns 37 this summer and has dealt with too many injuries to convince me he can stay healthy all season.”

– Chase Davis (FantasyPros)

“Brenton Doyle’s coming off a monster fantasy season with 23 HR and 30 SB. He barreled the ball well but had average hard-hit numbers and a strikeout rate of over 25%. He over-performed against all pitch types, while more specifically only dominated sinkers, and struggling against four-seam fastballs and sliders. His home environment is a plus, but he sported a huge home/road split, hitting over .300 at home and just .211 on the road. He finished the second half of 2024, hitting just .234. His rank and ECR are both inside the top 75 players this season. If he repeats last year, then he will return cost, but I worry the league will catch up to him where we see those counting stats and average dip.”

– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)

“My biggest fantasy bust is Ketel Marte. Right now, he is going consistently at the end of round 2 and the start of round 3 as the top second baseman off the board often. He has one full season of elite production and is past his prime. The red flags from regression to injury just scream for that price point to be an unmitigated disaster.”

– Chad Simpson (Fantasy Six Pack)

“There is a lot of pressure on Aaron Judge now, with Juan Soto gone and replaced by lesser former MVPs, and Giancarlo Stanton may be out for the year. He has a very high bar to clear again to meet expectations as the third overall pick, and I haven’t forgotten his history of injuries. The Yankees superstar isn’t hitting 50 home runs again, and it could be considerably less if he presses and/or misses significant time. I could be wrong on this one, but I have a bad gut feeling about him in what already looks like a challenging year for the Yanks.”

– Scott Engel (RotoBaller)

“Bo Bichette is somehow still being drafted as a top 100 player (insert Ryan Reynolds Harold and Kumar gif), but why? The upside he once had is gone. He doesn’t hit the ball hard anymore, with a declining average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and an embarrassing 5.3% HR/FB last year (Whit Merrifield had 4.8%, and Victor Robles was at 6%, for reference). And another thing, he’s also not fast anymore. 289th in sprint speed around guys like Will Smith, Seth Brown, Josh Jung, and Ivan Herrera. What’s the upside here, Jurickson Profar (70 picks later)?”

– Brandon ‘B_Don’ Myers (Razzball)

“My definition of a “fantasy bust” is a player that significantly underperforms their average draft position. The player that I expect to be this year’s biggest fantasy baseball bust is Ronald Acuna Jr. His average ADP is currently 28. He’s now dealt with two serious injuries in his career, and I see a significant reduction in stolen bases this season, especially after ACL surgeries on both knees. It would not surprise me if he finished with 20-30 stolen bases at the most, assuming he stays healthy for the entire season. I believe that you can find comparable players 3 to 4 rounds later in your drafts. Ronald Acuna Jr. is too high of a risk/reward for me this season, especially in early rounds of fantasy baseball league drafts.”

– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)

“I like Jackson Chourio, but I do not like his ADP of 18. Whether I am simply paranoid about a sophomore slump remains to be seen, but I am concerned about his 26th-percentile chase rate and 35th-percentile whiff rate. Zeile projections have him at 23 home runs and 27 stolen bases, and I fail to see how that warrants consideration in the second round, especially at the outfield position. I think Chourio is one year away from making “the leap,” but unless it’s a keeper league, I’m staying away from him at his current ADP.”

– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)

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The 2024 Men’s College World Series is in the books after Tennessee’s run to its first title in program history. But many of the stars in that tournament won’t have to wait long for the next step in their baseball careers.

The 2024 MLB Draft kicks off on Sunday, July 14. More than 600 total selections will be made spanning 20 rounds from Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas. For the first time in franchise history, the Cleveland Guardians hold the No. 1 overall selection. Rounding out the top five are the Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago White Sox.

Last year, LSU standouts Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews were expected to go at the top of the draft. They did with Skenes going No. 1 overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Crews going No. 2 to the Washington Nationals. This year there’s less of an outright consensus. Here’s what experts at USA Today, Bleacher Report, MLB.com, and CBS Sports predict will happen in the first round:

2024 MLB Draft mock draft roundup

1. Cleveland Guardians

USA Today: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

Bleacher Report: JJ Wetherholt, 2B/SS, West Virginia

MLB.com: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

CBS Sports: JJ Wetherholt, 2B/SS, West Virginia

Bazzana, a native of Sydney, Australia, would be the second Oregon State player taken No. 1 overall in the MLB Draft following Baltimore Orioles’ Adley Rutschman in 2019. Bazzana was the top hitter on the Beavers’ Pac-12 winning squad this season, leading the team in batting average (0.407), on-base percentage (0.568), and slugging (0.911).

Expert MLB daily picks: Unique MLB betting insights only at USA TODAY

Wetherholt is arguably the best hitter in the class but missed significant time with a hamstring strain. Last season, he posted just a 10% miss rate in a full season of action.

USA Today: “There’s nearly a whole month to adjust your dart tosses as teams juggle slot money and bonus pools. But Bazzana, a 21-year-old Aussie who batted .407 with 28 home runs last year, can move quickly to Cleveland and bring a near plug-and-play dynamic to their current group.”

CBS Sports: “We’re going to say Wetherholt sneaks in as the No. 1 pick. He was viewed as a No. 1 pick candidate entering the spring, before a hamstring strain sidelined him about six weeks. The money matters as much as the talent. The Guards have a competitive-balance pick (No. 36) and any bonus pool money they save here can be spent on a high-end talent later.”

2. Cincinnati Reds

USA Today: Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia

Bleacher Report: Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia

MLB.com: Jac Caglianone, 1B/RHP, Florida

CBS Sports: Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia

Nearly consensus across the board for Cincinnati here. Condon won the 2024 Golden Spikes Award given to the best amateur baseball player in the country. He was one of the top hitters in the country at Georgia this past year and led the NCAA in batting average (0.433) and home runs (37).

Caglianone was electric in the College World Series and racked up 68 home runs in the last two seasons and was second to Condon in the NCAA this season with 35. He won the John Olerud Award as the best hitter/pitcher in college baseball but might not pitch in the majors.

USA Today: “Sometimes a player fits snugly in a spot and that seems like Condon’s deal here, regardless of the chaos before and after this pick. Eight years after using the second overall pick on Nick Senzel, another versatile player with power from an SEC school, the Reds opt for Condon’s record-setting 37-home run pop.”

MLB.com: “The Reds likely are focusing on [Bazzana, Wetherholt, Condon, Caglianone, Wake Forest right-hander Chase Burns, and Arkansas left-hander Hagen Smith]. Caglianone appears to be ahead of Condon, with Burns the choice if they want a pitcher.”

3. Colorado Rockies

USA Today: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

Bleacher Report: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

MLB.com: Charlie Condon, OF/3B, Georgia

CBS Sports: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

Another near-consensus at No. 3 overall here. Burns pitched the fifth-most innings in the country (100) this season and posted a 2.70 ERA, 14th in the country. He relied heavily on his fastball and slider to rack up 191 strikeouts. Condon drops no lower than third in this roundup.

USA Today: “Perhaps spending top 10 draft capital on right-handed college pitchers named Chase is the cure for Coors Field pitching woes.”

MLB.com: “Though there has been talk of the Rockies targeting a pitcher (likely Burns over Smith), they wouldn’t pass on Condon and probably not on Caglianone.”

4. Oakland Athletics

USA Today: Jac Caglianone, 1B/RHP, Florida

Bleacher Report: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

MLB.com: Braden Montgomery, RF, Texas A&M

CBS Sports: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

A mix of prospects at No. 4 for Oakland. Caglianone and Bazzana are reliable bats, as is Montgomery. The Aggie hitter ended prior to the College World Series because of a broken ankle. Concerns about the injury and his recovery could drop him out of the top five picks.

USA Today: “If A’s owner John Fisher is excited about famous opposing players like Aaron Judge coming to play in their temporary Sacramento digs, Caglianone, a two-way player, might give Sacto-A’s fans a hometown guy to rally around. While Caglianone may very well be strictly a hitter in the pros, that’s more than enough.”

Bleacher Report: “A year after taking Grand Canyon shortstop Jacob Wilson with the No. 6 overall pick, the Athletics find the other piece of their future double play combination in this hypothetical and add another elite pure hitter to the system.”

5. Chicago White Sox

USA Today: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

Bleacher Report: Jac Caglianone, 1B/RHP, Florida

MLB.com: Konnor Griffin, OF/INF, Jackson Prep (Miss.)

CBS Sports: Jac Caglianone, 1B/RHP, Florida

For Chicago, Smith was one of the top pitchers in the NCAA last season. His 161 strikeouts were second only to Burns but he led the country with 17.25 strikeouts per nine innings. Griffin is one of the top prep players in the class and won Gatorade National High School Player of the Year. He boasts a 6-foot-4 frame and a rounded set of skills.

USA Today: “What to get the franchise that needs everything? The entire prep draft class and a handful of very enticing college position players are available here, but Chicago opts for the sure thing in Smith.”

CBS Sports: “Will the team that drafts Calgianone let him continue as a two-way player? There’s some thought he’ll really blossom as a hitter once he gives up pitching, and we are talking about the guy with the most power in the draft class. Caglianone has legitimate pro potential on the mound, but he might just be a reliever in the long run. Is the juice worth the squeeze?”

USA Today: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

Bleacher Report: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

MLB.com: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

CBS Sports: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

A mix of prospects for Kansas City at No. 6 overall. Smith is one of the top pitchers on the board. Kurtz dealt with a rotator cuff injury to start the season but still finished the year eighth in the NCAA in on-base percentage (0.531) with 78 walks, the most in the country.

USA Today: “While an early-season rotator cuff injury slowed some of his momentum, Kurtz still slugged 22 home runs and got on base at a .531 clip, drawing 78 walks to 42 strikeouts in 260 plate appearances. Probably the safest but not sexiest pick at this juncture.”

Bleacher Report: “With the exception of Bobby Witt Jr., the Royals have done a much better job developing pitching talent in recent years. And if Chase Burns is the No. 1 pitcher in this draft class, then Hagen Smith is “1A” and not far behind.”

USA Today: Braden Montgomery, RF, Texas A&M

Bleacher Report: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

MLB.com: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

CBS Sports: Bryce Rainer, SS, Westlake HS (California)

St. Louis is the first pick to see four different prospects in this mock draft. The only new name is Rainer who is close with Griffin as one of the top high school talents in the draft. The 6-foot-3 shortstop was one of the top players at the National High School Invitational this spring.

USA Today: “Another two-way player who leans strongly toward hitting, Montgomery is a dynamic defensive right fielder who hit 26 home runs but needs to improve on strike-zone recognition.”

CBS Sports: “It has been almost 30 years since the Cardinals drafted this high — their last top-seven pick was in 1998 (J.D. Drew at No. 5) — and this pick is when we could see the first high schooler taken. Rainer is loaded with tools and upside, and he gives off some Gunnar Henderson and Corey Seager vibes back when they were draft prospects.”

USA Today: JJ Wetherholt, 2B/SS, West Virginia

Bleacher Report: Bryce Rainer, SS, Westlake HS (California)

MLB.com: JJ Wetherholt, 2B/SS, West Virginia

CBS Sports: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

Wetherholt falls no farther than No. 8 across these mock drafts. Rainer is the top high schooler in another mock drafts as well. Yesavage suffered a punctured lung this season that kept him out of the ACC tournament but he ranked third in ERA (2.02) and fifth in strikeouts (145) in the country this season.

USA Today: “Perhaps the most fluid prospect in the first 10 picks, Wetherholt could land anywhere in the top or bottom of that range; ultimately, he lands with a franchise that adds another quick-to-the-majors talent in the footsteps of Nolan Schanuel and Zach Neto.”

CBS Sports: “History says the first player to reach the big leagues from this draft class will be an Angel. That was the case in 2021 (Chase Silseth), 2022 (Zach Neto), and 2023 (Nolan Schanuel). Yesavage missed the ACC tournament with a punctured lung a few weeks ago, but he returned looking like himself, and that’s a quick-moving starter with stuff and pedigree.”

USA Today: Konnor Griffin, OF/INF, Jackson Prep (Miss.)

Bleacher Report: James Tibbs III, RF, Florida State

MLB.com: James Tibbs III, RF, Florida State

CBS Sports: James Tibbs III, RF, Florida State

A new prospect enters the roundup at No. 9 for Pittsburgh. Tibbs III is right behind Caglianone and Condon as far as power hitters in the class. He finished the season with 28 home runs, tied for seventh-most in the country.

USA Today: “Finally, the run of college players ends with a talent who will play somewhere up the middle as a pro, with speed his most devastating tool. LSU commit and the Gatorade National Player of the Year.”

MLB.com: “If one of the eight players projected above gets to No. 9, the Pirates could pounce. They’re probably the second team, after the White Sox, that would pop Griffin. Barring one of those guys remaining on the board, Pittsburgh could pivot to a below-slot deal with someone like Tibbs or [Christian] Moore. Don’t rule out Kurtz.”

10. Washington Nationals

USA Today: Bryce Rainer, SS, Westlake HS (California)

Bleacher Report: Konnor Griffin, OF/INF, Jackson Prep (Miss.)

MLB.com: Bryce Rainer, SS, Westlake HS (California)

CBS Sports: Braden Montgomery, RF, Texas A&M

It’s all about hitting for the Nationals. Prep standouts Rainer and Griffin have the tools to develop while Montgomery brings a lot of upside if healthy at this point.

USA Today: “We try not to force comps too much, but Rainer profiles similarly to Padres rookie Jackson Merrill with his 6-3, 195-pound frame, power and arm. The former pitcher is likely to stick at shortstop, though.”

Bleacher Report: “The 2024 Gatorade National High School Player of the year, Griffin already looks the part of a big leaguer with a 6’4″, 215-pound frame and a well-rounded skill set that includes 50-hit, 60-power and 65-speed tools… The Nationals generally prioritize upside over polish at the top of their draft classes, and they are in a good spot at No. 10 to scoop up whoever slides from the top tier of players.”

USA Today: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (Ariz.)

Bleacher Report: Braden Montgomery, RF, Texas A&M

MLB.com: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

CBS Sports: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (Ariz.)

Montgomery makes it no farther than No. 11 across these mock drafts. Caminiti was projected to be one of the top players in the 2025 class but re-classified to 2024 and is arguably the top prep pitching prospect. He already has high-90 speed with his fastball and could develop his curve, slider, and changeup to pro levels.

USA Today: “The cousin of former NL MVP Ken Caminiti, Cam is a powerful lefty with a fastball that’s touched 96 mph. Struck out 119 in 52 2/3 innings and batted .493. Has committed to LSU.”

MLB.com: “Kurtz has no obvious home in the top 10 selections and could be a steal here, the scary recent track record of college first baseman in the upper half of the first round nothwithstanding. The Tigers could take anyone else from the consensus top 10 who slips.”

USA Today: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

Bleacher Report: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

MLB.com: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

CBS Sports: Konnor Griffin, OF/INF, Jackson Prep (Miss.)

Moore was one of the top hitters for the Volunteers this season and led the country in hits (111) and finished third in home runs (34) behind Condon and Caglianone. He played well on the big stage, too, with a home run in game three of the College World Series. Griffin falls no farther than No. 12 across this roundup and Yesavage offers another arm to the Red Sox.

USA Today: “Broke the Vols’ career home run record by slugging 60 longballs, including 33 this season for the national champions, and became just the third player in SEC history to win the Triple Crown.”

Bleacher Report: “The Red Sox have not always had the best luck developing pitching prospects, so that makes a polished, high-floor arm like Yesavage an attractive target. The 20-year-old is essentially a plug-and-play future rotation piece, even if his ceiling is more middle-of-the-rotation than future ace.”

USA Today: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

Bleacher Report: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (Ariz.)

MLB.com: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (Ariz.)

CBS Sports: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

Four different options for San Francisco here. There’s the prep pitcher with tools (Caminiti), the safe hitter (Kurtz), and the College World Series standout (Moore). Honeycutt is arguably the best defensive player in the draft with Golden Glove potential. He posted career-highs in batting average (0.318), slugging (0.714), and home runs (28) in 2024.

USA Today: “A Giants draftee (20th round, 2021), Honeycutt instead became a Tar Heel walk-off king, lifting them to the College World Series while slugging 28 home runs and 65 in three years. The Giants will spend a much higher pick on him this time.”

CBS Sports: “The Giants lean heavily on analytical models to make decisions, including on draft day, and Moore has put up premium exit velocities throughout his time with the Volunteers. He may not be a second baseman long-term, but just about everyone believe he’s going to hit and hit a lot.”

USA Today: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

Bleacher Report: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

MLB.com: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

CBS Sports: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

Another mix of Kurtz and Moore here as well as the productive Yesavage for Chicago.

USA Today: “He’s the third-best pitching prospect behind Burns and Smith, but Yesavage is hardly a consolation prize, especially for a pitching-needy organization like the Cubs. A 6-4 lefty with a fastball that touches 98 mph and offers the promise of a quick move through the organization.”

CBS Sports: “The track record of college first basemen taken in the first round is awful (C.J. Cron is the last to have a decent career), plus Kurtz missed time with a shoulder injury this year. Those factors conspire to push him down into the middle of the first round. The Cubs seem like a fine landing spot.”

USA Today: James Tibbs III, RF, Florida State

Bleacher Report: Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake High School (TX)

MLB.com: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State

CBS Sports: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky

Four different options for Seattle at No. 15. Tibbs III offers the best power outside of Condon and Caglianone. Seattle’s picked prep players in the first round in recent years and Gillen fits the bill. He rebounded from two injury-riddled seasons with a standout senior year that showed off his impressive athleticism and power from the plate.

Cijntje is the best pitcher on the board at this point with Caminiti and Yesavage off the board. Waldschmidt’s exit velocity is outstanding and if he continues to improve off of ACL surgery he could have a future as a centerfielder.

USA Today: “The ACC player of the year, Tibbs slugged 28 homers in 66 games for the Seminoles. A solid bat but some defensive limitations that might confine him to left field or first base.”

CBS Sports: “The Mariners traded their competitive-balance pick (No. 68) to the White Sox for Gregory Santos (competitive-balance picks are the only picks that can be traded), so they get fewer bites at the apple this year. That could lean them to a ‘safer’ pick and college hitters with premium data are as safe as it gets.”

USA Today: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

Bleacher Report: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky

MLB.com: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

CBS Sports: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

Cam Smith was another Men’s College World Series star with two-run homers to sweep the Seminoles through regional play. He improved at the plate and at third base as a sophomore this season. Waldschmidt could improve with more time from the ACL surgery while Honeycutt is already a standout centerfielder on defense.

USA Today: “It’s back-to-back Seminoles as the Marlins snag Smith, who posted a .488 OBP and 16 homers and moves well with a 225-pound frame that suggests more power is in the offing.”

Bleacher Report: “The Marlins are desperate for impact offensive talent, and Waldschmidt has the tools to be just that with elite exit velocity numbers and a polished, all-fields approach at the plate.”

USA Today: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State

Bleacher Report: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

MLB.com: Seaver King, 3B/OF, Wake Forest

CBS Sports: Seaver King, 3B/OF, Wake Forest

Benge is versatile at the plate and on defense; he was a semifinalst for the John Olerud Award this year (won by Caglianone). He boasts a combination of top exit velocities and bat-to-ball skills. King may end up at shortstop initially but he could develop at multiple spots on defense. At the plate, he needs to improve his discipline but racked up 78 hits this season.

USA Today: “Another two-way talent who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022 and now profiles as a outfielder with elite exit velocity. Brewers have had success with collegiate outfielders Garrett Mitchell (UCLA) and Sal Frelick (Boston College), and Benge gives them another solid and projectable option with loud skills.”

CBS Sports: “King fits Milwaukee’s M.O. as a player with power who might be a swing tweak or two away from fully unlocking it. He played at least 10 games at three different positions this spring (shortstop, third base, center field) and has a chance to play third or center at the next level. Pop and defensive versatility is up the Brewers’ alley.”

USA Today: Tommy White, 3B, LSU

Bleacher Report: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State

MLB.com: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky

CBS Sports: Kellen Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS (Florida)

White’s been a powerful hitter from the plate since his prep days. He was tied for 16th in home runs (24) and tied for 22nd in hits (92) in the country this season. Neither Waldschmidt nor Benge can match his power. Lindsey is a top-tier athlete who lacks hit power at this point but makes up for it with strike zone awareness and decision making.

USA Today: “A star at both N.C. State and LSU, his elite power should transfer well to the bigs. Can play either corner spot and it’s easy to envision the Rays deploying him at both.”

Bleacher Report: “[Benge] is a legitimate five-tool talent as a position player with a 55-hit, 55-power offensive profile and a strong arm that plays well in right field, though he is also quick enough to potentially get some run in center field. The Rays tend to target standout tools and figure out how they fit when the time comes, and Benge could prove to be a great value at this spot.”

USA Today: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State

Bleacher Report: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

MLB.com: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State

CBS Sports: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State

Three familiar prospects are all options at No. 19 for the Mets: the ambidextrous Cijntje, defensive standout Honeycutt, and Benge’s two-way potential.

USA Today: “Will Steve Cohen pay the ambidextrous pitcher two paychecks if he makes the majors as a right-handed starter and lefty reliever? The possibilities are intriguing, but it’s from the right side where Cijintje touches 97 and sits 95 with the fastball, complemented by solid secondary offerings.”

Bleacher Report: “Honeycutt would be a Top-10 pick if not for some swing-and-miss concerns, as he struck out 83 times in 62 games this spring… [he] profiles as a potential Gold Glove center fielder. So, even if he never hits for a high average, he provides enough secondary value to make a huge impact at the next level.”

USA Today: Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest

Bleacher Report: Tommy White, 3B, LSU

MLB.com: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston

CBS Sports: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

King brings consistent hitting and White offers power for the Blue Jays. Janek is the second non-Power 5 college prospect in this roundup. The Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year runs better than your typical catcher and is a threat to steal bases. Brecht pitched just 78.1 innings for Iowa this year but racked up 128 strikeouts, putting him fifth in the country in strikeouts per nine innings (14.71).

USA Today: “Quite a ride from Wingate College to Winston-Salem to Ontario. King can play all over the infield and while he lacks Bazzana and Wetherholt’s elite speed-power combo, he offers plug-and-play lineup reliability for a franchise that may be taking some hits on the dirt.”

MLB.com: “With impressive bat speed and good strength, Janek creates plus raw power that translates into average game pop with most of his home runs driven to his pull side. While he’s an aggressive right-handed hitter who looks to launch balls and frequently chases pitches out of the strike zone, he’s showing more patience and doing a better job of using the entire field in 2024.”

USA Today: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee

Bleacher Report: Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest

MLB.com: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

CBS Sports: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston

King and Honeycutt fall no further than Minnesota at No. 21 overall in this roundup. Amick was part of the NCAA’s best offense last season and finished tied for second on the Volunteers with 23 home runs. That raw power will likely translate to the majors but he’ll need to develop more consistency.

USA Today: “Not a ton of upside but also just tapping into it after transferring from Clemson to Knoxville, where he hit 23 homers for the national champs. Twins can work to reverse his plate discipline – he had 53 strikeouts to 29 walks this season.”

CBS Sports: “This draft class has four college catchers who could hear their names called within the first 40 picks. Depending who you ask, Janek is the best of the bunch thanks to his power, his strong arm, and his good receiving chops. The Twins are not the easiest team to pin down leading up to the draft because the current front office regime has shown a willingness to do anything.”

USA Today: Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Kentucky

Bleacher Report: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee

MLB.com: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

CBS Sports: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

A mix of production from the plate and the mound here for Baltimore. Smith and Waldschmidt both fall no further than No. 22 overall in this roundup.

USA Today: “Can Mike Elias shake his obsession with college outfielders? We say not yet. Waldschmidt is rising quickly after a prep and collegiate career marred by injury, but his elite exit velocity, chase rate and potential to play center field will be too tough to pass up.”

MLB.com: “When he’s on, Brecht’s fastball and slider are comparable to those of Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft. He can sit at 96-99 mph and touch 101 with his heater, which has explosive running action and superior shape to Skenes’ fastball, though Brecht doesn’t locate his nearly as well. All that said, his best pitch is a slider that parks at 87-89 mph and peaks at 91 with plenty of horizontal and vertical action.”

USA Today: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City HS (Okla.)

Bleacher Report: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City HS (Okla.)

MLB.com: William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS (Baton Rouge, La.)

CBS Sports: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State

A consensus on the position but not the player here. Mayfield is one of the top lefties in the draft with a fastball in the high 90s and arguably the best changeup in the class. Schmidt’s curveball is the best and his fastball is top tier among the prep pitchers in the class.

USA Today: “The 6-4 19-year-old has touched 97 mph with his fastball. The Dodgers and other late-round clubs may need to get creative with their bonus pool to lure the top prep lefty away from Oklahoma State.”

MLB.com: “Not only does Schmidt have some of the best stuff in the Draft, but he also generates it with ease and fills the strike zone. He still has room to add more strength to his wiry 6-foot-4 frame, so he could get better. He used to elicit comparisons to three-time All-Star Adam Wainwright, but now he’s better at the same stage of his career.”

USA Today: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

Bleacher Report: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State

MLB.com: Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral HS (Temecula, Calif.)

CBS Sports: William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS (Baton Rouge, La.)

Another spot with a consensus on pitching. Brecht brings efficiency, Cijntje brings switch-pitching possibilities, and Schmidt’s a high-ceiling prospect. Doughty makes up for his lack of size (6-foot-1) with a strong, athletic frame that translates to a commanding fastball, strong curveball, and solid slider.

USA Today: “Let’s make it five years in a row the Braves take a pitcher in the first round, four of them collegians. Atlanta will need to improve Brecht’s command but they have a 6-4, 235-pound frame to work with.”

MLB.com: “Doughty’s athleticism helps him find the strike zone very consistently, especially given his power repertoire. Those who were around him at the Area Code Games also saw plus makeup, a kid who was a sponge for pitching knowledge, something he would take to Oklahoma State should the Draft not go his way.”

USA Today: Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State

Bleacher Report: William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS (Baton Rouge, La.)

MLB.com: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City HS (Okla.)

CBS Sports: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City HS (Okla.)

Mayfield doesn’t make it out of the top 25 in this roundup and Schmidt brings a pair of strong pitches already. Jordan’s the lone outfielder here with arguably the top bat speed in the class. His strength with that swing bodes well for the majors but will need to improve his plate discipline.

USA Today: “It’s been eight years since the Padres have taken a collegiate player with their first pick – but they also don’t typically draft 25th, this position partly a punishment for grossly exceeding the luxury tax. But Jordan is no low-upside safety pick. He has power to all fields, elite exit velocity and arm strength from right field.”

Bleacher Report: “The Padres are one of the few teams that have not shied away from high school pitching in the first round, and that could be to their benefit this year as there’s a good chance one of the consensus top three—Cam Caminiti, Kash Mayfield and William Schmidt—will still be on the board at No. 25 overall.”

USA Today: Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State

Bleacher Report: Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State

MLB.com: Tommy White, 3B, Louisiana State

CBS Sports: Braylon Doughty, RHP, Chaparral HS (Temecula, Calif.)

A mix of prospects for the Yankees here. Culpepper is good but not great for now at the plate and may need to transition to third base in the majors.

USA Today: “A consummate glue guy on the left side of the infield, Culpepper has both pop and speed, neither elite but also an excellent package for this end of the first round. With Anthony Volpe entrenched, the hot corner would be calling Culpepper.”

CBS Sports: “New York hasn’t taken a pitcher in the first round since Clarke Schmidt in 2017, but this would be a good year to break the trend given who’s available in our mock draft. The toolsy exit velocity guys they typically target are mostly off the board and Doughty offers some of the best data in the draft class (spin rates, etc.).”

USA Today: Caleb Lomavita, C, Cal

Bleacher Report: Kellen Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS (Florida)

MLB.com: Ryan Sloan, RHP, York HS (Elmhurst, Ill.)

CBS Sports: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS (Arizona)

Four different prospects at four different positions for Philadelphia. Lomavita’s one of the top catchers whose swing is unusual but effective. He’s improved his bat potential in his collegiate career. Sloan has a very good fastball and a surprisingly advanced changeup for a prep pitcher. Caldwell lacks size (5 feet, 9 inches tall) but makes up for it with bat speed, aggression, and athleticism to hang in at centerfield.

USA Today: “One of two Bay Area backstops who could go in the first round – along with Stanford’s Malcolm Moore – Lomavita brings a polished offensive profile but also questions about his receiving ability that may suggest a move to the infield.”

CBS Sports: “A year ago, the Phillies landed the steal of the draft in Aidan Miller at No. 27. Miller and Caldwell are not all that similar — Miller is a power threat likely to settle in at third base, Caldwell is a slash-and-dash burner — but the Phillies have really leaned into the high school ranks the last few years, and Caldwell is the highest-upside high school position player still available in our mock draft.”

USA Today: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston

Bleacher Report: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

MLB.com: Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake High School (TX)

CBS Sports: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee

A bunch of familiar prospects here as Brecht makes it into the first round of all four mocks.

USA Today: “They head north just a bit to pluck a collegian who could go higher in the first round thanks to solid receiving skills and 17-homer, 1.185 OPS production in the AAC.”

MLB.com: “Gillen may have the best bat of any high schooler in this Draft. He has a disciplined approach, quick hands and a sweet left-handed swing that combine to produce line drives to all fields. His hitting ability will allow him to get to most of his plus raw power, giving him a 20-homer floor, and he should develop more pop as he adds more strength to his physical 6-foot-2 frame..”

USA Today: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS (Arizona)

Bleacher Report: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View HS (Arizona)

MLB.com: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford

CBS Sports: Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake High School (TX)

Moore makes his first appearance in this mock draft roundup. Compared to Janek, his bat is more productive but his glove isn’t, giving a consideration to a potential position change.

USA Today: “Caldwell stands just 5-9, and though the Diamondbacks wouldn’t be be getting a power hitter, his high-energy approach, speed and hit tool would play well in both their lineup and ballpark.”

MLB.com: “[Moore]’s shown he can have an advanced approach at the plate, including doing damage with two strikes, though he wore out catching every day in his first year of college. While his surface numbers were down for much of his sophomore season, he still had elite chase rates and swing-and-miss rates in the zone. If teams think he can be an average catcher, he could easily be considered a top 10 pick.”

USA Today: Theo Gillen, SS, Westlake High School (TX)

Bleacher Report: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston

MLB.com: Kellen Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS (Florida)

CBS Sports: Caleb Lomavita, C, Cal

Gillen and Janek both just make it as consensus first-round picks. Lindsey falls a bit farther down the order for MLB.com and Lomavita round out a pair of productive catchers for the Rangers.

USA Today: “Injuries dimmed his star a bit, but Gillen may prove to have tools comparable to the prep bats taken in the top 10.”

CBS Sports: “It was difficult to find a home in this mock for Lomavita, who is likely to come off the board earlier than this pick. The Rangers may prefer Stanford’s Malcolm Moore, another catcher with a chance to be selected earlier than No. 30. Any mock drafter will tell you it is more satisfying to nail a late first-round pick than a top-five pick. With the draft still two weeks out, the back of the first round remains wide open.”